Work due to start on the Subway’s flagship city centre station

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has awarded a £5.3 million contract for the modernisation of one of the busiest stations in Glasgow to GRAHAM Construction. Work is due to start on the station in early February 2014.

St Enoch Subway station, at the foot of Buchanan Street, is due to receive a major makeover to become the Subway’s flagship city centre location as part of its £288 million modernisation programme.

The revamp includes new glass canopies inspired by Glasgow’s Kibble Palace, which are set to make it a striking feature in the heart of Glasgow’s shopping district.

The Subway station, which services almost 2 million residents and visitors per year, will have a new station office combined with a travel centre making optimum use of space underground.

SPT is also taking steps to make the Subway more accessible by installing a lift at St. Enoch. It will be first of two stations to have lifts introduced, with the other lifts at Govan station. This will provide accessibility from the city centre to a key interchange at Govan bus station and the new Fastlink service. When both lifts are in place it will provide a vital link from the Subway for onward travel to the new Southern General Hospital.

Work in areas of the concourse and platform will be completed in advance of the Commonwealth Games. The more complex work to install the lift and new canopy will begin after the Commonwealth Games to minimise disruption to the station throughout the games. All work at the station is due to be complete in 2015.

Jim Coleman, SPT Chair, said:

“The modernised St Enoch station will make it a fantastic asset for SPT and we believe it will prove to be a new landmark for Glasgow. The Subway tops and tails one of the busiest shopping streets in Scotland. Our stations don’t just provide an easy and convenient method of travel they also enhance the wider area for all of those who live in, work in or visit the city.

“Once St Enoch is finished, SPT will be a third of the way through the station refurbishments. The modernisation, which will deliver sleek new trains, new signalling and an improved customer experience – as well as the smart ticketing technology recently introduced – will help future-proof the Subway for generations to come.”

SPT will keep customers up to date on what modernisation of the station on its website and twitter @GlasgowSubway.